People wearing costumes participate in a traditional New Year's Day swim in Malo-les-Bains, northern France January 1, 2015. (Reuters/Pascal Rossignol) (Ruptly video from the Netherlands) / Reuters

Tens of thousands of people across Europe and North America has decided to bring in the New Year with a polar bear plunge, braving frigid water both for fun and charity.

In the Netherlands alone, 50,000 people, many decked out in
knitted orange caps, are estimated to have made a beeline for the
North Sea, AFP reports. Perhaps seasonally warmer weather
provided a bit of relief, with temperatures clocking in at a
surprising seven degrees Celsius (44 degrees Fahrenheit.)

The Dutch have been taking the New Year swim since 1960, though
what once started out as a niche activity has clearly ballooned
into a widespread phenomenon.

"It's a true tradition that gives a fresh start to the year
and immediately puts your resolutions into practice," a
30-year-old man named Martijn told AFP. Around 400 people also
turned up to brave a dip in the North Sea in the northern French
city of Dunkerque.

"It's nice once it's finished," one of the divers told
AFP.

Similar, though small smaller dips into the cold were taken in
Germany, Switzerland and Ireland.

On the other side of the not entirely frozen pond, people were
equally willing to brave the inevitable chill that would settle
in their bones upon hitting the water.

In Canada, participants had their pick of glacial waters from the
Atlantic to the Pacific and everything in between.

In Toronto, more than 700 people threw caution (and their
clothes) to the wind as they jumped into Lake Ontario.

Madu Burja, a 28-year-old Peruvian, told the Toronto Star about
the shock and exhilaration immediately after experiencing what
she called the most extreme cold of her life.

“It’s the part where you cannot feel your body . . . at that
moment I couldn’t breathe. I’m really excited about this,”
she said.

In the suburban fishing community of Herring Cove in Nova Scotia,
125 people stripped down to Speedos, spandex and tutus before
diving off Government Wharf.

Terry Spearns, who made her 13th jump on New Year’s Day, told the
Chronicle Herald she thought this year might be her last.

“I don’t know, though,” she said. “It is kind of
addictive.”

For those wondering how she’s made a baker’s dozen of plunges,
she has a bit of advice.

“The rum helps.”

Farther south, similar events were held throughout the United
States.

“Only fools jump in — because we’re fools and we’re going to
jump in ice cold water today,” two participants, dressed as
Elvis, told CBS Denver before plunging into the Boulder
Reservoir.

Watch below: New Year’s swimmers plunge into ice-cold
lake in Canada

While some merely did it for the thrill, many were attempting to
raise money for charity.